MADISON, Ill — The first Bommarito Automotive Group 500 (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN, INDYCAR Radio Network) is behind us. But, we have another one in tap for Sunday. For the first time ever, we have two NTT INDYCAR Series races at the World Wide Technology Raceway in as many days.

Saturday’s race saw Pato O’Ward lead 94 of 200 laps but fail to win. He was beaten out of the pits on his final stop by Scott Dixon and Dixon cruised to his 50th career Indy Car win. He narrowly held off a hard charging Takuka Sato though. For the second time in six days, it was a Dixon vs Sato fight to the finish. This was the ending that we had hoped to see last Sunday at Indy.

Dixon crossed the finish line up .014 seconds ahead of Sato.

O’Ward had to settle for third as Sato made a brilliant move to pass him on the outside of Turn 1 for second with a little more than 20 to go.

Young Colton Herta was fourth and Marcus Ericsson fifth. Several other drivers thought that they had top fives going but bad luck found them instead.

Will Power led the first 62 laps from the pole but was jumped on the pit cycle by O’Ward and Dixon. Jack Harvey was fourth in the first half of the race with Josef Newgarden was fifth. They all pit early in the second stint. In the middle of it, a caution flew. It flipped some spots in the field as a result.

None of the three would finish in the top 10 now.

Santino Ferrucci had a top five day going then for a second straight year, a slow final stop took him out of contention. He also finished outside of the top 10.

So, who wins on Sunday?

Sato and Newgarden share the front row. Power and O’Ward are in Row 2. Harvey and Dixon in Row 3. Ericsson and Simon Pagenaud in Row 4.

I think the winner comes from this grouping. Here’s why.

The last six Indy Car race winners at the World Wide Technology Raceway have come from a top five starting spot including the last seven from the top eight. Furthermore, 23 of the last 25 race winners in the series overall have come from a starting spot in the top 4 Rows too.

We’ve had a new winner every year for this race as well. Only the best win at Gateway. Names like Paul Tracy (1997), Alex Zanardi (1998), Michael Andretti (1999), Juan Pablo Montoya (2000), Al Unser Jr. (2001), Gil de Ferran (2002), Helio Castroneves (2003), Josef Newgarden (2017), Will Power (2018) and Takuma Sato (2019) all won on the 1.25-mile oval heading into this weekend. That’s why it’s not shocking that Dixon won on Saturday.

Weather

No rain, low 80s as a high.

Race Info

200 Laps/250 Miles

How to Watch

TV – NBCSN

Radio – INDYCAR Radio Network

Computer – racecontrol.indycar.com

Who to bet on

Head here for expert advice by me on which drivers to bet on

Spotter Guide

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